Rev Thundertaker to wind down the day.

Merry Christmas beer drinkers.

https://i.imgur.com/522WjkS.jpg

What a nice tree!

Merry Christmas everyone!

I’ve been enjoying the M-43 from Old Nation the past few months. Love the grapefruit notes in the nose and taste. Great malty mouth feel to boot.

Nice. I’d say M-43 is one of the best widely distributed, year round, “new” IPAs in the market.

I enjoy Boss Tweed from them as well.

I’ll look for it. Kroger carries M-43 and 70+. Don’t think I have seen Boss Tweed.

I've been rollin' Drekkers lately... grabbed several a few weeks ago and then heard they're pulling out of Arizona? Or at least the distributor at home.

Also found some WeldWerks sours that are fantastic.

Haven't been terribly beer-adventurous lately, but did find this Funky Bhudda Last Snow Porter on tap last weekend and it lives up to the 99.

Also need to hit up Cigar City.

Had a spooky lemon sour beer

https://i.postimg.cc/qRXWgVM1/Screen...115-163731.png

Graystoke is ****ing awesome, shipped some cherry pie sour my way.

Now my job is to not drink them all in a matter of a week. :drool:


https://i.imgur.com/LFhktHd.jpg

Just spent 4 days in San Diego with my best friends and their wives. Lots of good beers were had and I’ve never liked IPAs but they got me to cross the HAZY IPA bridge and it was fantastic. Love the fruity notes and not bitter hops like standard IPAs. I’ll have to continue to expand my palate with these.

I really miss Modern Times.... and 20% humidity.

I'm not great with beer names and they were picking things for me but I enjoyed it all.

Saturday we glorious, at 65 and sunny. We spent the entire day at the zoo and the 5 year old walked 6.5 miles without a complaint. Sunday was a bit cold in the afternoon but we pounded some beers oceanside at seaport to pass the time. Definitely love it out there and has to be a summer getaway to escape Phoenix too.

Happy to hear you're enjoying some hazies. Our local market still excels more at west coast IPAs over hazies but we're getting better.

Some locals you might enjoy that are more easily assessible (talking available at Total Wine and such):

The Shop - Church Music
Goldwater - Hop Chowda
Wren House - Spellbinder
Tombstone - Bright & Juicy

Or you could just go to Ground Control and pick up anything labeled New England from the Bottles and Cans tab

https://www.groundxcontrol.com/menu/beer/

Glad to help. As stated, next time I fill the box with some right next to me craft beer from Single Speed Brewing.

http://www.singlespeedbrewing.com/the-beer/

Thanks, I appreciate that. Gives me a good place to start around here coming up on refreshing beers for summer.

My haul from Jester King over the weekend.

Attachment 125652

Nice! Went to Balboa Park once, but didn't make it to the zoo. For beer, Pure Project is right there and they're pretty good, with a lot of variety.

One place to take note of when you're back there is Extraordinary Desserts near the zoo/park.... the desserts are good, but so is everything else. Great coffee shop, really good food.

Holy crap, they have a lot of beer!

Iowa has to be one of the most underrated craft beer destinations, given everything I've heard about the Des Moines area, much less TG, Pulpit Rock, etc.

I used to be a big cyclist/racer. The owner of Single Speed asked what he should name his new seasonal and me and my friend came up with this, a take on Obi-Wan Kenobi:

O Knobby One
Baltic Porter w/ Blackberry + Vanilla

Cycling lore describes a mystical, bearded rider that few, if any, have seen. Only those braving the deepest woods, the steepest climbs, and the most inclement weather have a chance of catching a glimpse. His hunger for gnarl is legendary. His flow is unequaled. If by chance his existence is reality, we are certain of two things. One, he is immersed deep in the wilderness, near snow packed single track. Two, this is the beer he would want in his hand. Dare to catch his roost.

We have a ton of small breweries that are awesome, especially in the DSM area.

We also have a ton of small wineries and some of it is liquid gold.

Some pretty decent beers flowing around town for AZ beer week

https://www.thesleepywhale.com/draftandcans

https://i.imgur.com/Cn4o2W0.jpg

Boulevard Churro brown ale (limited edition) is pretty vile. Tastes like a brown ale that went bad, then someone threw a handful of cinnamon into the bottle and re-capped it.

edit: the Maple one is gross as well. Brewmaster must have had Covid in the past... dead taste buds or something? Just, eww.

I like them both, but the Churro brown ale tasted like the Cinnamon bun ale they released a year or two ago.

Well, I have a few extras of each if you want them. OP, KS :D

Bearcat, I'm bummed my illness and travel schedule didn't allow us to get together while you were here. Lew, you're a dick for not hitting me up... ROFL

What spots did you end up hitting?

:clap::clap:

San Diego is in my Top Ten world cities I love. I went there about 7-8 times while I lived in San Fran and Silicon Valley. Passed up on trips to LA, which I hate.

Beer and fish tacos are excellent in SD.

I love Ballast Point beers, especially Sculpin IPA. Top 3 for sure.

Zoo is fantastic, Torrey Pines golf course, La Jolla Scripps, George's on the Cove, great waterfront and water view restaurants, Gas Lamp District was great during the Street Scene Festivals back in late 90's.

I went all over San Diego and loved it, but find LA trips need to be very localized. I've really enjoyed trips to Orange, just outside of Anaheim, and the little downtown area that doesn't at all feel like you're surrounded by a billion people. Spent time in Pasadena for work and enjoyed it, plus some time in the Ventura area (which really isn't LA).

There are peaceful pockets in all the chaos and some of the best food & beer in the world.

It's Beer Week (aren't they all). Cycle released their days of the week stouts, probably the best in the area.

I've heard some of the events are pretty damn pricey... Angry Chair has like a $300 event for I believe only 5 or 6 bottles. Bought a few from Cycle (not nearly $60/each :eek: ), might hit up one or two more next weekend.


https://i.imgur.com/01sg2iY.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/W2SwzdR.jpg

Started slow around here, but have found the best of the best.

Cigar City Cider and Mead... their beer was disappointing, but the cider and mead are on point. Brought home some key lime pie and blueberry crumble cider.



Magnanimous... great, heavy stouts. One with marshmallow that was basically a s'mores stout was particularly great.



Woven Water... best overall.
Shamrock Fusion: Super Fruited Sour Ale conditioned on banana, cream of coconut, crème de menth, and vanilla ice cream.... a thin mint sour that was surprisingly refreshing. Great sours, great stouts.



Getting a decent on-the-road collection, between the TG Cherry Fandango, Cycle beers, ciders, and a few Woven Water 4 packs. This one is a thick blueberry sour...

https://i.imgur.com/YRtPE1U.jpg

Drove across the valley for some Wakefield stouts and this Tombstone hazy

I noticed GC has some decent bourbon offerings as well

https://i.imgur.com/qEwDhUf.jpg

You're telling me I could have gotten out of going to Peter Piper Pizza from 5:30-7:30 for a school fundraising event?!?!?!

That pic was taken at 11:00 this morning LMAO

Damn, so close! LMAO

lewdog is so alpha, Ground Control has a beer in his honor!


https://i.imgur.com/PoFmh9i.png


...and a 14% J Wakefield, 16% Tombstone, some BL, Civil Society in the fridge. :drool:

Maybe try baking with them?

https://domesticfits.com/10-minute-b...innamon-rolls/

That place is right in my nape of the neck. Never heard of it before but looks like it's 10 min from my house.

Downtown Chandler is waaaay more happening than it was my first stint down here when I was going to ASU. Pretty cool area, almost like Mill Ave used to be.

I'm about 20 minutes east so I don't get there super often. I do like getting over there though. That place and Elmer's Tacos across from Chandler High School are my jams.

10.5% Triple IPA Collab between The Veil (Richmond, Virginia) and Cloudwater (Manchester, England). They rebrew this beer every year and it's incredible, although you have plan ahead if you're thinking about having a full can of it.

https://i.postimg.cc/br38f25V/Screen...331-001712.png

Anyone have any brewery recommendations for downtown San Antonio or Austin?

Hopefully Timbone sees this post and can chime is as he seems pretty well versed in the Austin scene.

From what I know, Jester King is an obvious choice outside of Austin. If you got the time, and don't get your BBQ fix at JK, then I'd recommend the 20 minute drive to Driftwood and Salt Lick BBQ (there's usually a wait).

Live Oak in Austin for Euro styles.

Oddwood Ales in Austin, especially if you're into lagers.

Pinthouse Pizza, several locations around Austin with some really good IPAs.

Not to change your subject but wanted to call out an SD tap takeover this weekend in PHX with a number of beers from North Park and Seek.

Seek was completely new for me. Felt they were under North Park a bit but still enjoyable. Of course everything was tasting great after awhile.

It's not a brewery and it's not downtown, but have to call out Flying Saucer in San Antonio, as I miss it every time I'm in KC (RIP).

If you like bourbon, Devil's River is in downtown San Antonio... think they mostly do flavored stuff, like coffee bourbon, but it's tries hard to be a bourbon and not a sweetened down mess.


This has probably been no help, but let us know what you try!

I've seen King's killing it lately with Bottle Logic, Drekker takeovers, Ales of the Crypt.... I really should just unfollow them. :deevee:

I think a beer nerd friend mentioned Seek when I was in SD, but never did try them.

What PHX lacks in homegrown breweries they really make up for with their distribution deals.

SoCal, Denver, Chicago, Decorah, Portland, and Florida are really well represented here.

Excluding STL and some of the New England heavyweights, they're really targeting the top beer markets in the US.

Thanks, fellas. Going to try and make it to JK, but may not end up having time - only there for a day with limited time. I'll look into the other spots, see what looks good. Seems like lots of good options in both places, will report back what I find - hopefully, my customers like beer, lol.

:toast:

NPBC just keeps putting out great beer, awesome that you have access to some of it. I've not made it to Seek yet, but it's on the list - kind of forgot about it, tbh. Were those the only two SD breweries representing at the event?

They were the only 2

Seems an ownership group of 3 of the our best beer bars have a distribution relationship with NPBC and now I'm guessing Seek

https://i.imgur.com/az2fSfu.jpg

This shit is the gooooods

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...85a0c41843.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It gets overshadowed a bit in the KC hop scene because of Alma Mader and BKS but Rad AF has always been up there. I was at the brewery getting ready to work a festival when GABF announced their bronze medal in the Hazy IPA last year. It was neat to celebrate with the owners and then we proceeded to get blasted at the fest!

Nothing special. Just an easy drinking beer.

Pool season is upon us.

Heck yeah

Drinking barrel aged stouts by my own pool is the definition of paradise

https://i.imgur.com/krHGE6C.jpg

FYP
:thumb:

I'm down.


https://i.imgur.com/kS8oLun.jpg

That looks very interesting :thumb:

San Antonio - Weathered Souls is the best brewery here, however it’s a little bit north of downtown. Kunstler brewing is a bit more downtown. I haven’t checked it out yet, but I want to.

Found a Pure Project stout, Situation Gravity, on tap at Divided Vine in Gilbert yesterday.

I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Side note, the beer/wine combo bar concept out here is completely new to me and I'm here for it.

https://i.imgur.com/YcObFkt.jpg

I'm a HUGE fan of banana flavored beers and O.H.S.O. has a great one from time to time.

Looking for any recommendations.

You might look for Bottle Logic's Equivalent Dose. Its a chocolate covered banana stout aged in both bourbon barrels then Superstition Mead barrels.

https://untappd.com/b/bottle-logic-b...e-2023/5294393

I've not had it as banana beers aren't my thing and I'd guess its likely going to be sweet given the nature of bananas then the mead barrel treatment, so probably best as a couple ounce sipper.

Its also a $30 bottle and weighs in at 11%. Looks like its available at King's in PHX. I know its available at Beer Barn in Gilbert and probably Sleepy Whale in Chandler.

https://kingsbeerandwine.myncrsilver...0-3a96c378729d

I'd recommend hoarding Bananarchy, because it's really hard to beat!

Bottle Logic has a couple.. one is Natural Selection, which I haven't tried, and the one below is really good.

I think some of the heavier stouts from The Bruery in LA get to Phoenix, they have a banana nut bread stout that's good from their Bakery stouts, but don't remember it being quite on the same level as OHSO or BL.


https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/01..._Logice_MA.jpg

Nice, hadn't seen that one. My beer budget just isn't looking the same being away from BL, MT, Cycle... LMAO

It literally came across my social media feeds within the last couple days.

I've tried most of the Cycle days of the week stouts. I can't remember which ones are which but I remember a couple being really darn good.

I had a couple bottles of Cycle at home, including a 2019 Maple MW that was really good, but couldn't remember if I bought them in LA or if they showed up in Phoenix.

Speaking of banana, their 2023 Monday is hazelnut banana and it's a favorite... and I believe each day of the week is a different variant every year, too. In St Pete, I bought 3 different years of Monday, plus the one I posted the other day.

Never got around to trying any other styles, they had so many stouts on tap both times I was there.

Didn't have as much free time as I'd hoped, but hit up Roadmap and Freetail in San Antonio. Both were solid, but not overly memorable, wouldn't go out of my way to go back to either. Got a list of a few others to check out next time: Kuntsler, Second Pitch, and Black Labs.

Made it out to Jester King, which was a pretty fantastic setting - farmhouse setting about 45 minutes outside of Austin, where they grow a lot of their own ingredients, and have a slew of goats to help maintain the land. I did a terrible job of photos, but it was a great place to snag a beer on a perfect weather day. It had been a while since I'd had JK beer, and it wasn't as good as I'd remembered - I think my palate has gotten used to much more aggressive sours, and the JK options were all very light/refreshing (which was nice for the day). I stuck solely to their sour/farmhouse brews, and they were pretty hit or miss, only a couple were notable, which I didn't note, lol. All in all, definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

Had this North Park Keen On Peacharine on tap the other day and it was straight :fire:

I actually had two which something I don't normally do (order the same beer twice at a bar).

https://i.imgur.com/tRlCHtG.jpg

Passion fruit vine keeps the beer cooler.

The last of Graystoke's Cherry Fandango on a beautiful afternoon... surprised it lasted two months! :toast:


https://i.imgur.com/W29wFQ9.png

Taking my virgin self to the Hazy IPA game each Saturday.

This one is decent. Tangerine and guava noted very nicely. Not hoppy, which I prefer, but I do wish it was a bit “thicker” if that’s a thing. Mouth feel is pretty thin. 4/5 rating.

Ticked a Pliny the Younger today while at a homebrew event

https://i.imgur.com/kvo0PlK.jpg

I’ve tried all of these, Budweiser Diesel is the best. :thumb:

I didn't realize they bottled Younger, nice score. I'm fortunate enough to get it in SD every year, but have only ever seen it on tap.

Tonight drank 2 Reve Coffee Stouts from Parish Brewing Co.

1 with my tacos and the other while smoking a My Father La Opulencia toro.

Very thick with no head and super coffee flavored. 6.8% ABV.

Tasted stronger and I got a nice buzz. Couldn't drink more than 2.

Still haven't been able to try that.

One for the Cincinnati Mayor

https://i.postimg.cc/L51mV20T/Screen...515-195944.png

Founds some WeldWerks yesterday. I've found random cans a handful of times outside of CO and it's always just that... never a 4 pack or multiple singles. Just a random can on a shelf

And I will always purchase you, lonely WeldWorks deliciousness.


https://i.imgur.com/s5MXdmR.jpg

Back to basics.


https://i.imgur.com/ikBkLe7.jpg

Seeing BBQ will always bring me back to this exchange with Reaper from 2010. It was learning moment for me that I remember and also a window into the beer journey

And yeah, still not feeling Quads 13 years later

Cheers to you and Reaper

Took me a second on the BSS part.

Reaper was such a wealth of knowledge in this thread. I mentioned Blanc Burgers on facebook once (and they had a really good beer menu) and Reaper went into detail on how the food selection would perfectly meld with the beer selection.

I clicked on one of your quotes and browsed a few pages... good times, hunting down Boulevard beers.



My older brother lives in North Carolina, and drove up there to hike last weekend and he bought a 4 pack of BBQ and some IPAs as a gift... he's not a beer expert by any means, but had apparently remembered I liked BBQ back when it was really hard to find around KC.

Looking at Burial next weekend (Raleigh, wish I could make it to Asheville), expecting it to be the pinnacle of Carolina beer.

I think Boulevard Smokestack Series was a fairly recent branding at that time which is why I went for the BSS descriptor.

What's hilarious is that I felt insecure that a KC brewery put out a beer called BBQ that I didn't like and I honestly feel to this day that unintentional acronym was the driving force behind peoples perception of it.

I can't be convinced that people around KC were like "oh hell yeah a bourbon barrel quad!" It was just acronymed BBQ and people were like I have to try that.

Not to diminish the beer or peoples preferences, its obviously a quality beer and at the time I was probably trying to crush it (the original iteration was bomber format) during a noon Chiefs game or something instead of an after beef wellington dinner drink to maximize its characteristics, but yeah I'm convinced that played into the lore.

I mean how many other quads are people out there seeking out?

Yeah, I've wondered if the 'BBQ' was a holy shit, let's tag it BBQ moment just for the KC vibes, or if it really was inconsequential when they first named it. Hell, the only other quad I know of off the top of my head is Three Philosophers from Ommegang, I remember trying it in Omaha years ago.

I think BBQ was a gateway beer, personally... Boulevard Pale Ale was my go-to for a bit, then started venturing into Single/Double Wide IPA, and BBQ provided that heavier punch that was on par ABV-wise with the readily available stouts of the time. It was far more in-your-face for its time than it is today, of course, and a good amount of nostalgia now (well, and at 12%+, enjoyable after a couple).